Sophie Smith-Holland > Chambers of Matthew White > Bristol, England > Barrister Profile

Chambers of Matthew White
St John's Chambers
101 VICTORIA STREET
BRISTOL
BS1 6PU
England

Work Department

Children Private Law, Children Public Law, Divorce & Financial Remedy, Part IV Family Law Act 1996

Career

Call : 2015

Sophie is a specialist family law practitioner with a thriving junior practice across all of our family law practice areas, including:

  • Children Private Law
  • Children Public Law
  • Divorce & Financial Remedies
  • Part IV Family Law Act 1996
  • Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989

Sophie contributes to the Transparency Project blog, Family Law Week and co-authors the Financial Remedies Update in the FLBA’s “Family Affairs” publication. Sophie has worked this year as a Qualified Legal Representative and undertaken pro bono work through Advocate.

Sophie worked for two years in the family team of a highly respected national law firm assisting on children cases. She also spent a period of time working on public law children cases in the Children’s Services Legal Team at a Local Authority in the South West and volunteering with the National Centre for Domestic Violence.

Memberships

  • Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
  • Western Circuit

Education

  • University of Law BPTC – Very Competent
  • University of Sussex LLB (Hons)
  • “Highly Commended” prize – Bar Council’s Law Reform Essay Competition (2017)
  • Joseph Jackson Scholarship (Major Award) – Middle Temple (2014)
  • Blackstone Entrance Exhibition – Middle Temple (2014)
  • Scholarship – University of Law (2014)
  • Winner – The Crown Prosecution Service Mooting Competition (2013)
  • Sophie has completed the FLBA Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training

Lawyer Rankings

Regional Bar > Western Circuit > Family: children and domestic abuse

(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 4

Sophie Smith-Holland –St John’s Chambers ‘Sophie is always thoroughly prepared. She has an eye for detail and robustly represents clients in court. Her advice is always clear and concise.’